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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2007
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STROKE: Preventing the risk
Special to the Journal
Stroke is the third leading
cause of death in the country,
but many adults are unaware
of the signs or symptoms of a
stroke or wait too long to
seek medical attention.
That is unfortunate
because studies show there
is a critical “therapeutic win
dow” - a span of about three
to six hours - during which
permanent brain damage
may be largely avoided with
proper diagnosis and treat
ment.
“Depending on its sever
ity, a stroke may result in
disability such as motor and
vision impairment, loss of
feeling, difficulty with speech
and language, problems with
memory or loss of ability to
reason,” explains William
O. Rankine, Jr., DO, family
practitioner and member of
the medical staff of Houston
Medical Center. “A stroke can
even cause paralysis, coma or
Houston Healthcare to offer Diabetes Day
Special to the Journal
Diabetes is one of the most
serious health problems fac
ing Americans today, and
the statistics are worsening.
According to the National
Center for Health Statistics,
diabetes rates in the United
States have increased 27 per
cent between 1997 and 2002,
as a result of the increasing
rate of obesity and decreas
ing exercise among adults.
Nearly 12 million adults have
been diagnosed with diabe
tes, however, many people
are unaware they even have
the disease. Because diabetes
often shows no symptoms, it
is essential that adults, espe
cially those at risk, have their
blood sugar level checked on
a regular basis.
According to Vicky
Alexander, RN, FNR Disease
Management Coordinator at
Houston Healthcare, Type
Bread cancer
luncheon set
Special to the Journal
Houston Healthcare and
the Robins Air Force Base
Health and Wellness Center
will host its 12th Annual
Breast Cancer Luncheon
Oct. 16 from 11:30 a.m. to
1:30 p.m. at the Museum of
Aviation’s Century of Flight
Hangar. Doors open at 11
a.m.
The guest speaker for
this year’s event is Marcia
Berlin, who is a breast
cancer survivor, registered
dietitian and working mom.
She will share her inspi
rational story - “The
Sisterhood of the Traveling
Genes.”
In addition to the guest
speaker, the luncheon will
include a fashion show fea
turing the latest sporty fall
attire provided by Belk’s
and modeled by breast can
cer survivors.
The luncheon is sponsored
by Houston Healthcare,
RAFB Health and Wellness
Center, the Susan G. Komen
Breast Cancer Foundation-
Central Georgia Affiliate
and the American Cancer
Society.
Tickets are $lO each and
include lunch and a gift.
The ticket must be present
ed at the door for admit
tance.
For more information or
to purchase a ticket, please
call 478-923-9771.
death.
“The earlier someone pres
ents to the emergency room,
the more that can be done for
optimal outcome.”
Most strokes occur after
the age of 55 and are equally
common in both men and
women of that age; however,
more women than men die of
stroke.
African-Americans are
more than twice at risk for
stroke as Caucasians.
Rankine warns that no
one is completely safe from
stroke. “Certain risk factors
are uncontrollable such as
aging or a family history of
stroke,” he explains. “Other
risk factors can be controlled
such as being overweight or
having high blood pressure,
diabetes, high cholesterol
and cardiovascular or heart
disease.”
Regardless, he says, a per
son can dramatically reduce
their risk of stroke by having
regular checkups and mak
II diabetes, or non-insulin
dependent diabetes, is the
type which affects mainly
adults over the age of 40.
Adults who are overweight,
lead sedentary lifestyles,
have high blood pressure and
a family history of Type II
diabetes are most at risk. If
left untreated, diabetes can
lead to blindness, chronic
kidney disease, heart disease
and even amputation of the
foot or leg.
“The good news is that
Type II diabetes is treatable
by controlling blood sugar
levels through proper diet
and exercise along with med
ication if needed,” explained
Alexander. “Diabetes differs
from other diseases because
90 percent of the treatment
necessary is the responsibil
ity of the individual patient -
a person with diabetes must
decide daily whether to test
ElMf .s.LAfe. 3CK2HF w. waklJiiua ■■ ■
T T
JL JHLouston Healthcare's Med-Stops offer care for
your family’s minor illnesses and injuries on a walk-in basis when
your regular doctor’s office is closed or when you don’t need the technical
services of the Emergency Room. The Med-Stops are staffed by Board
Certified Family Practice and Internal Medicine physicians working
with nurses and medical technicians. Lab and x-ray services are available
on-site.
♦ Houston Lake
Med-Stop
Hwy. 127 and Moody Road
988-1865
Open Mem - Sat
7 am - 6:30 pm
ing healthy lifestyle changes.
“The three strongest risk
factors for stroke that can
be controlled - high blood
pressure, heart disease and
diabetes - often don’t cause
symptomsin the early years,”
states Rankine. “That is why
it is important for all-adults,
especially those with a family
history of heart? disease and
stroke, have regular screen
ings to detect these condi
tions while they are still fair
ly treatable.”
For adults, regular health
check ups should focus on
lowering blood pressure, con
trolling heart disease symp
toms, and managing diabe
tes.
Hypertension, or high
blood pressure, is the num
ber one risk factor for stroke,
contributing to half or more
of all attacks. Having Type
2 diabetes is an independent
risk factor for stroke that is
often associated with other
related stroke risks such as
their blood sugar, follow the
appropriate diet and exercise
regularly.”
Houston Healthcare is
sponsoring a Diabetes Day
Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. until
2 p.m. at Middle Georgia
Technical College in Warner
Robins. Designed for all
people affected by diabetes,
the free program will consist
of a variety of educational
and informational seminars
about diabetes-related topics
including how to get the very
best care for diabetes, pro
tecting the heart by choosing
foods and fats wisely, making
the link between diabetes,
heart disease and stroke, and
more. Registration begins at
9:30 a.m., and lunch will be
provided. For more informa
tion and to register for the
program, call 478-923-9771
or register online by visiting
www.hhc.org/education.
Urgent Care.**
high cholesterol and being
overweight. Important life
style changes adults should
♦ Pavilion
Med-Stop
N. Houston Road at Houston Mall
923-2843
Open Daily
8 am - 7:30 pm
FAST Action for Stroke Symptoms
If you or someone nearby has any of the following stroke symptoms, remember F.A.S.T.
(Face, Arms. Speech, and Time), and dial 911 immediately:
FACE
•Have the person smile.
•Is one side of their face paralyzed?
•Are they complaining of a sudden, severe headache?
ARMS
•Have the person raise both arms to shoulder level.
•Does one arm drift downward?
•Are they not able to keep one arm at the same level as the other arm?
•Are they suddenly having difficulty maintaining their balance?
SPEECH
•Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. For example, “My name i 5...”
•Are they slurring their words?
•Are they having trouble speaking?
•Are they unable to talk at all?
•If they can speak, are they making any sense?
TIME
•If the person exhibits any of the above symptoms, call 911 immediately.
•Document the person’s symptoms and what time they started. This is very important for
treatment!
H Abdul Qadir, MD
Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry
and Neurology
' i f’,- i'' ~ i . ' }’ ’ ' 1 /" ' :
Middle Georgia Neurology, LLC
Specializing in Adult and Child Neurology,
EMG/Nerve Conduction and Sleep Medicine
233 North Houston Road, Suite 140 C • Warner Robins
(located in the Houston Health Pavilion)
when you need it.
make to lower their risk of
stroke include losing weight,
eating a low-fat diet, low
923-3535
Accepting New Patients
Hilary Kate Ellwood, MD
Board Certified, American
Academy of Family Medicine
Kimberley R. Ham, MD
Board Certified, American
Academy of Family Medicine
Cynthia M. Jones, MD
Board Certified, American
Board of Family Medicine
Gayatri Kamat, MD
Board Certified, American
Board of Internal Medicine
HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
ering salt intake, exercising
regularly, limiting alcohol
and quitting smoking.
Barbara A. Matthews, MD
Board Certified, American
Board of Family Medicine
Jodie Velie, MD
Board Eligible, American
Board of Family Practice
Ferial Walid, MD
Board Certified, American
Board of Family Medicine
53852
50626